Fewer fishers going to Panatag

Fewer fishermen from the province of Zambales dare venture out into Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which is now being guarded by Chinese Coast Guard vessels, for fear that tension over conflicting territorial claims in the area could flare up again. The fishermen were staying away from the shoal, a rich fishing ground, despite improved relationships with China ushered in by the Duterte administration’s policy to put aside territorial disputes with China in its bid to distance itself from the United States, a longtime Philippine ally, and cozy up to the Asian giant.